Method of forming containers



Nov. 2, 1937. 5. SMITH 2,097,899

METHOD OF FORMING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Swan S mifh Bu ya-Mai Jlttorneqs Nov. 2, 1937. s. SMITH METHOD OF FORMING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnventor Swan Snnith B g 62M 4 Jlttorneqs Patented Nov. 2, 19,37

PATENT orrlcs:

nm'rnon or roams con'ramsas Swan Smith, White Bear, Minn, assignor to David C. Shepard, St. Paul, Minn.

Application December 5, 1935, Serial No. 53,022

8Clalms.

Myinvention relates to containers and to the method of forming the same and has for an object to provide a method by which paper containers can be constructed economically and expeditiously.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a method of constructing conical containera in which sheets of paper arcuate in form are cut from a roll or length of paper by single arcuate cuts extending transversely of the paper and of the same degree of curvature and of a curvature such that when the sheets are wound one upon the other and secured together, the edges of the sheets at one end of the container register with one another.

An object of the invention resides in providing .a method of constructing containers in which the sheets after assembly are simultaneously trimmed at the other end of the container.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a method of constructing containers in which the curvature of the sheets is such that the edges of the sheets at the lower end of the container register with one another.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a method of constructing containers in which a flanged bottom is inserted into the wall structure of the container with the lower edge of the flange in register with the lower edge of the wall structure, and in which a metal hoop U-shaped in cross section is applied to the flange and wall structure and attached thereto.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a method of constructing containers in which a hoop having an inwardly turned flange is applied to the upper end of the container with said flange in engagement with the free edge of the container formed by the trimming of the same.

Other objects of the invention reside in the de- I tailed steps of the invention and in the performance thereof as hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the method of winding the sheets of paper upon one another.

Flg. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the container.

Fig. 4 is a developed view of a length of paper from which the blanks used in forming the container are cut.

of the container.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the method of applying the bottom hoop to the container.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the meth- 5 of trimming the wall structure of the container.

same not being involved in the method of the invention has not been shown in the drawings. The various parts of the body of the container will now be described in detail. 20

The bottom I! may be constructed of paper or any other suitable material. When constructed of paper a number of sheets of paper are employed which are circular in form and which are of a diameter somewhat greater than the 25 diameter of the container at the lower end thereof. These sheets are glued one to the other and before the glue has set are placed in suitable dies and pressed to form a planiform portion l5 adapted to extend across the bottom of the con- 3 tainer and a flange I6 depending from the planiform' portion thereof as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and adapted to lie against the inner surface of the container. This bottom is then dried either in the atmosphere or in an oven to 35 cause the glue to set, or, if preferred, heat may be applied to the dies so that the bottom is caused to take the desired form when removed from the dies. When so constructed the flange l we extends outwardly from the planiform port i o ii at right angles thereto. For building up the wall structure ll of the container individual sheets of paper is are employed which are cut transversely from a roll of paper, the unrolled portion of which is indicated at ill. The sheets iii are of a length equal to the width of the paper 30 and the ends II and 32 of these sheets are formed by the lateral edges of the paper coming from the roll and are parallel to each other. The sheets I9 50 are severed from the roll by means of a'pair of cutters traveling in an arc of a circle. Each sheet is severed by the same cutters traveling over the same path so that the upper edges 26 oi the sheets have the same curvature as the 55 lower edges 25. The radius of the arc of move-'- ment of the cutters is such that when the sheets are wound or rolled upon a suitable mandrel, the lower edges of the sheets register with one another to form a true circle at the lowermost portion of the container. Due to the fact that the container is in the shape of a frustrum of a cone a true circle at the top could only be produced by cutting the sheets along a line indicarted in Fig. 5 by the reference numeral 45. However, the sheets are not individually out along this line and when assembled the edges 26 thereof are out of register and form overlying crescent-shaped bands 44 at the upper portion of the container.

The method of assembling the sheets I! is as follows: A mandrel diagrammatically indicated at I! in Fig. 2 is employed which is in the shape of a frustrum of a cone of dimensions corresponding to the inner dimensions of the wall structure of the container. The diameter of this mandrel at its smaller end is equal to the inner diameter of the wall structure II at the lower end thereof. One of the sheets l9 which is cut as previously describedand which is designated at i9a is wrapped about the mandrel with the lower edge 25 thereof in register with the edge of mandrel I! at the smaller end thereof. The upper surface of the sheet at the first applied end 28 thereof is coated with glue or other adhesive. As

.the sheet is applied to the mandrel the other end 29 of the sheet is caused to overlie the end 28 and adheres thereto forming a joint indi: cated in its entirety by the reference numeral 39. Due to the particular shape of the sheet the overlap has the form of a trapezoid increasing in width throughout the length of the container and being greatest at the lower end of the container.

After the first sheet has been applied, other sheets are applied which are exactly of the same size and shape as the'flrst sheet. One of these sheets is indicated at lab and is shown as partly wrapped about the mandrel and the previously applied sheet. The succeeding sheets are arranged withtheir edges 25 in register with one another and with the corresponding edge of the first sheet and are progressively wrapped about the mandrel so that the joints 39 become equally distributed about the periphery of the wall structure II with a portion of one joint overlapping a portion of the adjacent joint. As each sheet is applied, the same is coated with glue or other adhesive and caused to adhere to the previously applied sheets. Enough sheets are applied to give the body structure the desired thickness and strength. Five to six sheets are usually used. Due to the fact that the curvature of the edge 25 is such that said edge forms a true circle when the sheets l9 are applied, all of said edges liein register with one another and form the lowermost edge 20 of the wall structure H of the container.

The hoop I3 is constructed from a straight narrow strip of sheet metal which is folded longitudinally along a medial line to form a straight structure, U -shaped in cross section, having outer and inner walls 22 and 23 and a connecting portion 24. This straight structure so formed is run through crimping rolls which engage the inner wall 23 and crimp the same to form corrugations 21 in said wall. By means of this method of construction, the length of the wall 22 is reduced as compared to the length of the wall 22 and the formerly straight structure is converted into circular form with the walls 22 and 22 substantially cylindrical. After crimping, the ends of the walls are secured together as by riveting, soldering or welding to form a hoop of the desired circumferential dimensions.

After the wall structure II has become cured the bottom i2 is attached thereto. This is accomplished as-follows: Hoop I2 is first set on a horizontal surfacewith the portion 24 resting upon said surface. The wall structure is next set into the space between the walls 22 and 22 of said hoop. The hoop is of such dimensions that the upper end of wall 22 snugly fits against the outer surface of wall structure II when the said wall structure is in proper position, which positively centers the hoop with respect to the wall structure. This leaves a space between the inner surface of wall structure II and the wall 23 of hoop ii of uniform width which is wider than the thickness of the flange l6 of bottom [2. Bottom I2 is next inserted into the wall structure II with the flange I 6 lowermost and is forced downwardly by means of a plunger applied to the planiform portion I5 thereof. The outer diameter of flange I 6 is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the wall structure II at the locality thereof in proximity to the portion ll of the bottom, measured prior to the application of the bottom to the wall structure. This causes the lowermost marginal portion of the flange ii to hug the inner surface of wall structure II as the bottom is being forced in position. Flange l2 hence positively clears the upper end of wall 22 of hoop l2 as the bottom descends. Due to the shape of flange l6 and wall structure ll, said flange is urged into tight contact with wall structure II as the bottom is forced into position.

After the bottom is in place, a scoring roll 2 is applied to the outer wall 22 and a punching roll 43 applied to the inner wall 22 of the hoop said hoop is rigidly secured thereto. At the same time a rib 28 is formed on said wall structure opposite the bead 2B which extends into the interior of the container. The bead 25' is so disposed that the rib 22 fills in the space 42 formed by .the rounded corner ll of the bottom i2 which serves as a fillet and also assists in holding the parts attached to one another. It will be noted that the hoop l2 in addition to holding the parts attached to one another and restraining relative movement thereof, forms a guard which protects the lowermost edges 22 and 2| of the flange I6 and the lowermost marginal portion ll of the container proper. The rim or base 24 of the hoop l2 serves as a support for the container proper, and also functions as a skid by means of which the container may be readily slid on the surface ,on which it rests.

Due to the fact that the curvature of the upper edge 26 of the sheets I! is the same as that of thelower edges 25. the said edges do not form a true circle norv do they register with one another but leave crescent shaped bands 24 which are distributed about the upper periphery of the container. If the sheets is were out along a line I! '3 indicated in Fig. 4 the upper edges of the sheets would also form a true circle. However, the sheets are not individually out along such lines but after the body structure i l is completed the entire body structure embodying allot the sheets"- II is trimmed by means of shearing discs .6 and 41 (diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 7) along a circumferential line including the corners ll of the sheets is, which line coincides with the lines 45. This removes the crescent shaped bands 44, leaving the body structure of the container with an exposed smooth circular upper edge 10. The trimming of the wall structure of the containr may be accomplished'either after or before the bottom is applied thereto.

The exposed edge 49 of the wall structure ll of the container is protected by the hoop ll which also serves to reinforce the open end of the container. This hoop is conical or tapered the same as the wall structure II and is constructed from a sheet of metal bent into the desired form and having the ends thereof riveted or welded together. The lowermost edge of said hoop I I is beaded, as at El, around a reinforcing ring 53. This reinforcing ring is constructed of wire and the ends thereof are butt welded together. In applying the hoop ll to the container, said hoop is passed over the bottom of the container and along the tapered wall structure ll into its fitted position thereon with the upper margin of the hoop projecting beyond the upper edge 49 of the wall structure. This portion of the hoop is then turned over to form an inwardly extending lip 54 overlying said edge 49 of the wall structure II. This lip serves to protect the said edge and at the same time serves to retain the hoop in its fitted position on said wall structure. In addition to the lip 54, rivets 55 may be used to further secure the hoop H to the wall structure I I, which rivets extend through said hoop and wall structure and are riveted in place as shown in Fig. 5.

By the use of the method disclosed a minimum number of operations is required. The severing of the sheets from the roll by single transverse cuts simplifies the formation of the sheets. By making the curvature of the lower edges of the sheets such that said edges form a true circle when built into the body structure of the container, any slight irregularities arising in the assembly of the sheets will be covered up when the metal hoop is applied to the container- By trimming the upper end of the wall structure all of the excess material is advantageously removed at one time and a clean smooth edge is provided against which the lip of the upper hoop may abut. My improved method involves a minimum amount of waste and labor and makes for the economical manufacture of conical paper containers in a highly practical manner.

Changes in the steps of the method herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my improved method what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of forming the side wall structure of a conical container from a length of paper, which consists in cutting the paper transversely along curved lines to form separate sheets having the same degree of curvature at the top and bottom, and of a curvature such that the edges of the sheets at one end of the formed wall structure will register with one another, in securing the sheets together, in wrapped relation, one

upon the other with the registrable edges in register, and in trimming the several sheets of the formed wall structure collectively at the other end of the said wall structure.

2. The method of forming the side wall structure of a conical container from a length of paper which consists in severing separate sheets from the length of paper, each sheet being formed by a single transverse out along a curved line of a degree of curvature such that the edges of the sheets at one end of the formed wall structure will register with one another, in securing the sheets together in wrapper relation, one upon the other, with said registrable edges in register, and in trimming the several sheets of the formed wall structure collectively at the other end of said wall structure.

3. The'method of forming the side wall structure of a conical container from a length of paper which consists in severing separate sheets from the length of paper, each sheet being formed by a single transverse out along a curved line of a degree of curvature such that the edges of the sheets at the lower end of the formed wall structure'will register with one another, in securing the sheets together in wrapped relation, one upon the other, with said registrable edges-in register, and in trimming the several sheets of the formed wall structure collectively at the upper end of said wall structure.

4. The method of forming the side wall structure of a conical container from a length of paper which consists in severing separate sheets from the length of paper, each sheet being formed by a single transverse out along a curved line of a degree of curvature such that the edges of the sheets at the lower end of the formed wall structure will register with one another, in securing the sheets together in wrapped relation, one upon the other, with said registrable edges in register, inserting the lower end of the side wall structure into a metal hoop, U-shaped in cross section, of a diameter providing an annular space between the inner surface of the wall structure and the inner wall of the hoop, in inserting into the wall structure a bottom with a depending cylindrical flange of an external diameter greater than the least internal diameter ofv the wall structure, in forcing the bottom downwardly to cause the free edge of the flange to follow along the inner surface of the wall structure and into said annular space, and in clinching the inner and outer walls of the hoop against the flange and lowermost marginal portion of the wall structure, respectively.

5. The method of forming conical containers which consists in inserting the smaller open end of a conical side wall structure into a metal hoop, U-shaped in cross-section, of a diameter providing an annular space between the inner surface of the wall structure and the inner wall of the hoop, in inserting into the wall structure a bottom with a depending cylindrical flange of an external diameter greater than the least internal diameter of the wall structure, in forcing the bottom downwardly to cause the free edge of the flange to follow along the inner surface of the wall structure and into said annular space, and in clinching the inner and outer walls of the hoop of the wall structure and the inner wall of the hoop, in inserting into the wall structure a bottom with 9. depending flange adapted to flt snugly-in the lowermost marginal portion of the wall structure, in forcing the bottom downwardly to' cause .the free edge of the flange to follow along the inner surface of the wall structure and into said annular space, and in'clinching the inner and outer walls of the hoop against the flange and lowermost marginal portion of the wall structure, respectively. v i

7. The method of forming containers having a tubular side wall member and a flanged bottom member provided with juxtaposed marginal portions secured together by -means of a U-shaped hoop, said method consisting in inserting the marginal portion of one of said members into said hoop and in centering said hoop with reference thereto to provide an annular space within said hoop, adjacent one of the surfaces of the marginal portion of the inserted membenfor the reception of the marginal portion of the other member, in sliding said other member along said inserted member with the marginal portion thereof engaging said surface of said inserted member and guiding said marginal portion of the second aoom'soo vide an annular space between'the inner surface named member into all! annular space by means of said surface and in clinching said hoop upon the juxtaposed marginal portions of said members.

- 8. The method of forming conical containers which consists in inserting the smaller end of an open ended conicalside wall structure into a metal hoop. U-shaped in cross section, of a diameter providing an annular space between the inner surfaceof the wall structure and the inner wall of the hoop, in inserting into the wall structure from the other end a bottom with an outwardly extending cylindrical flange of an external diameter greater than the least internal diameter of the wall structure, in forcing the bottom inwardly into the wall structure to cause the free edge of the flange to follow along the inner surface of the wall structure to stretch the wall structure and force the same toward the outer wall of the hoop and to increase said annular space, whereby. said flange is readily received within said space as said flange follows along the inner surface of the wall structure and in clinching the inner and outer walls of the hoop against theflange and lowermost marginal portion of the wall structure, respectively. SWAN SMITH.

DISCLAIMER 2,097,89 9.Swon Smith, White Bear,- Minn. Mn'rnon or FORMING Con'mmlla. Patent dated November "2, 1937. Disclaimer filed November 8, 1939, by

the assignee,- David O. Shepard.

enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 in said specification.

, Hereboy I flicial Gazette December 5, 1939.]

of the wall structure and the inner wall of the hoop, in inserting into the wall structure a bottom with 9. depending flange adapted to flt snugly-in the lowermost marginal portion of the wall structure, in forcing the bottom downwardly to' cause .the free edge of the flange to follow along the inner surface of the wall structure and into said annular space, and in'clinching the inner and outer walls of the hoop against the flange and lowermost marginal portion of the wall structure, respectively. v i

7. The method of forming containers having a tubular side wall member and a flanged bottom member provided with juxtaposed marginal portions secured together by -means of a U-shaped hoop, said method consisting in inserting the marginal portion of one of said members into said hoop and in centering said hoop with reference thereto to provide an annular space within said hoop, adjacent one of the surfaces of the marginal portion of the inserted membenfor the reception of the marginal portion of the other member, in sliding said other member along said inserted member with the marginal portion thereof engaging said surface of said inserted member and guiding said marginal portion of the second aoom'soo vide an annular space between'the inner surface named member into all! annular space by means of said surface and in clinching said hoop upon the juxtaposed marginal portions of said members.

- 8. The method of forming conical containers which consists in inserting the smaller end of an open ended conicalside wall structure into a metal hoop. U-shaped in cross section, of a diameter providing an annular space between the inner surfaceof the wall structure and the inner wall of the hoop, in inserting into the wall structure from the other end a bottom with an outwardly extending cylindrical flange of an external diameter greater than the least internal diameter of the wall structure, in forcing the bottom inwardly into the wall structure to cause the free edge of the flange to follow along the inner surface of the wall structure to stretch the wall structure and force the same toward the outer wall of the hoop and to increase said annular space, whereby. said flange is readily received within said space as said flange follows along the inner surface of the wall structure and in clinching the inner and outer walls of the hoop against theflange and lowermost marginal portion of the wall structure, respectively. SWAN SMITH.

DISCLAIMER 2,097,89 9.Swon Smith, White Bear,- Minn. Mn'rnon or FORMING Con'mmlla. Patent dated November "2, 1937. Disclaimer filed November 8, 1939, by

the assignee,- David O. Shepard.

enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 in said specification.

, Hereboy I flicial Gazette December 5, 1939.] 

